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The control points on the outer shape are automatically parented to their matching points on the inner shape. This means that any changes made to the inner shape will also be made to the outer shape. The relationship is one-way; adjustments to the outer shape can be made without affecting the inner shape.
A dashed line drawn between the points indicates the relationship between the points on the inner and outer shapes.
Adding Softness to a Segment
The outer shape is drawn using a green dashed line instead of a solid line to help distinguish it from the inner shape.
— Use the Tab key to cycle between the onscreen controls until the dashed outline is visible
— Right-click over a spline in the view and choose Controls > Select > Polygon: Outer Polygon.
TIP: Press Shift-A to select all the points on a shape, and then hold O and drag to offset the points from the inner shape. This gives you a starting point to edit the falloff.
TIP: Press Shift-A to select all the points on a shape, and then hold O and drag to offset the points from the inner shape. This gives you a starting point to edit the falloff.
TIP: Press Shift-A to select all the points on a shape, and then hold O and drag to offset the points from the inner shape. This gives you a starting point to edit the falloff.
Once the outer polyline is selected, you can drag any of the points away from the inner polyline to add some softness to the mask.
The farther the outer shape segment is from the inner shape, the larger the falloff will be in that area.
Adding Additional Points to the Shape
It is not necessary for every point on the inner shape to have a match on the outer shape, or vice versa. You can add additional control points to refine the shape of either shape.
Each polyline stores its animation separately; however, if a point is adjusted on the inner shape that is parented to a point on the outer shape, a keyframe will be set for both splines. Adjusting a parented point on the outer shape only sets a keyframe for the outer shape’s spline. If a point that is not parented is adjusted, it will only set a keyframe on the relevant spline. You can disable this
behavior entirely for this polyline by selecting Polygon: Outer Polygon > Follow Inner Polyline from the contextual menu.
Locking/Unlocking Point Pairs
If you want to parent additional control points, you can select the points, right-click in the viewer, and choose Lock Point Pairs from the contextual menu for either spline. This will cause the selected point on the outer shape to become parented to the selected point on the inner shape.
Any animation already applied to either point is preserved when the points become parented.
To unlock a point so it is no longer parented, select the point, right-click in the viewer, and deselect Lock Point Pairs from the contextual menu.